Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 202: The Counter scheme (Part-1)

Poisons came in endless varieties, and so did special medicinal liquids. She had always had the habit of stockpiling rare preparations. In her storage pouch, there was just the right thing for this situation.

"But... how do we get that powder onto them?" Baldwin frowned slightly, concern flashing across his face.

After all, the enemy was hidden while they were exposed. That disadvantage was real.

Zora smiled faintly, her tone almost casual.

"That’s easy. They’ll come to us tonight. We just have to wait."

"Tonight," she added, eyes gleaming, "we’ll give them a taste of what it feels like to be besieged by beasts."

As her plan unfolded, shock spread across everyone’s faces.

Baldwin felt a chill run down his spine. At that moment, he firmly engraved one truth into his heart—

Never offend Zora. If you did, you might not even know how you died.

"This idea... is brilliant!" Reesa said excitedly, barely able to contain herself.

For people like Julian and the Black Vulture Mercenary Group, there was no need for mercy at all.

"This plan is ruthless enough," Marcus said, giving a heartfelt thumbs-up. His admiration for Zora deepened yet again.

At the same time, he felt an odd sense of relief.

Fortunately... she wasn’t his enemy.

Night fell once more, and the entire White Mountain Range sank into darkness.

Thick clouds swallowed the moon whole, leaving not a trace of silver light behind. The night grew heavier than usual, and amid the rolling shadows came the low, continuous roars of demonic beasts. An oppressive, ominous aura spread through the forest like damp mist clinging to the skin.

Zora and the others were seated beneath a towering tree. At some point, no one could say when, they had all changed back into the clothes they had worn earlier.

Not long after, the demonic beasts swarmed in again.

Like hounds catching a scent, they charged straight toward Zora’s group, relentless and ferocious.

Clang! Clang!

The crisp collision of weapons rang out, interwoven with savage roars. Under the flickering firelight, Zora’s face showed clear signs of irritation.

"Damn it!" Marcus cursed as he drove his blade into a beast. "Why do these monsters keep clinging to us? Are they possessed?!"

Raphael’s expression was no better, exhaustion creeping into his eyes. "Ever since we ran into Julian and his people, nothing’s gone right. We haven’t had a moment’s rest all day. It’s infuriating!"

"I really don’t get it," Zora said with a weary sigh. "How do these beasts always know exactly where we are?"

Her tone was filled with helpless frustration, perfectly in line with the scene they were acting out.

*

Not far away, hidden in the shadows, Julian stared at the scene with barely contained excitement. His previously resentful expression was now twisted with glee as he watched Alaric Von Seraph and the others fighting wave after wave of demonic beasts.

"Vice leader, your move is brilliant!" Julian whispered, his eyes shining as he glanced at Thaddeus.

Thaddeus let out a low chuckle. "Judging by the number of corpses around them, they must not have rested at all today. Even their movements have slowed."

Julian observed for a moment longer, then nodded vigorously. "Exactly. They have no idea this is all our doing. This time, Alaric Von Seraph is as good as dead!"

Confidence surged through him.

Their strengths had always been close. Now that Alaric Von Seraph was exhausted, victory would be decided the moment they clashed.

Between evenly matched spirit warriors, even the slightest disadvantage could mean defeat.

A cold glint flashed through Thaddeus’s eyes. "This will also avenge the brothers who died at their hands."

Losing three late-stage Xuanyuan Realm spirit warriors was a pain he could barely swallow. But compared to gaining Julian’s loyalty, the loss was still acceptable.

Still, that hatred had now been firmly carved onto Zora and her companions.

"In my opinion, they’re already at their limit," Julian said impatiently. "Let’s move now!"

His fists clenched, itching to rush out and crush Alaric Von Seraph with his own hands.

Thaddeus hesitated briefly before shaking his head. "Not yet. Wait until they finish dealing with the beasts. Then we appear."

"That works," Julian agreed without much thought. As long as he could personally kill Alaric Von Seraph, a little more waiting meant nothing.

*

"Master, they’re here," Black’s voice sounded quietly in Zora’s mind. "They’re very close now. They won’t make a move for a while."

"I know," Zora replied calmly.

A sharp glint flashed through her eyes. With Black and White’s keen perception, detecting Julian’s group as they approached was effortless.

She let out a light cough.

At once, Alaric Von Seraph and the others stiffened slightly, their expressions shifting.

It seemed... the real show was finally about to begin.

Boom!

As Alaric Von Seraph delivered the final blow and the last demonic beast collapsed to the ground, the tension that had been stretched taut all night finally snapped. Everyone let out a long, exhausted breath.

"Finally... that’s the last one," Baldwin muttered weakly. His legs gave out as he dropped straight to the ground, too tired to even lift a finger. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest.

"We can’t stay here," Alaric Von Seraph said, his voice hoarse but steady. His gaze swept over the blood-soaked ground and scattered corpses. "Rest for a moment, then we move immediately. The stench of blood here will attract even more monsters."

"Got it..." Several voices answered, equally drained.

Just then, an untimely voice cut through the stillness like a blade.

"Since you’re all so tired," the voice drawled lazily, "why not rest here forever?"

Julian stepped out from the shadows with a smug, satisfied smile plastered across his face. His eyes gleamed with a twisted delight. Since the day he’d been expelled from the academy, he had never felt such pleasure.

Alaric Von Seraph’s expression darkened instantly. His eyes turned icy as he stared at Julian. "You actually dare to show yourself again? You ran like a dog this morning. This time, you won’t get away so easily."

"Save your bravado, Alaric Von Seraph," Julian sneered. "After being besieged by monsters all day, how much strength do you think you have left?"

As his words fell, Zora and the others exchanged strange glances. Their expressions shifted subtly, though Julian failed to notice.

"So it was you," Raphael said coldly, anger barely contained in his voice as if he just discovered it. "You were behind this from the start."

"That’s right," Julian admitted without the slightest shame. He lifted his chin arrogantly and glanced toward Thaddeus. "Thanks to our Vice Leader’s brilliant method. Well? How does it feel?"

"Shameless!" Reesa shouted, her eyes blazing.

"Shameless?" Julian laughed. "So what if I am?"

He stepped closer, and instinctively, Zora and the others retreated a few steps, glancing around as if searching for an escape route.

Seeing this, the mercenaries of the Black Vulture Mercenary Group broke into pleased grins. Compared to the morning, the students before them now looked completely different.

The wheel of fortune had turned. Tonight, it was the Canglan Academy students who were cornered.

"Kill them!" Thaddeus barked, swinging his hand forward. "Settle all grudges tonight!"

With that command, Julian and the mercenaries surged forward like a tide. Even Thaddeus himself joined the charge, his eyes burning with resentment. The humiliation he’d suffered earlier at Prince Kael’s hands had to be repaid in blood.

Faced with their overwhelming momentum, Zora’s group continued to retreat, their expressions filled with apparent fear.

Julian’s grin widened. Weapons flashed, and killing intent surged as they pressed forward, convinced victory was already in their grasp.

Then, without warning, Zora and the others exchanged a single glance.

In perfect coordination, they turned and bolted toward the rear.

"Chase them!" Julian roared.